Rehabilitation stroller

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to a multi-function rehabilitation stroller, and in particular to an improved rehabilitation stroller which allows a user to adjust a backrest portion of the stroller, to fold the stroller easily and to stop the stroller by simply stepping on a braking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002Various rehabilitation strollers have been developed for wounded or sick infants.

0003For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,997 discloses a rehabilitation stroller, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref>, which can be folded to a minimum volume but the backrest of the stroller cannot be adjusted. Besides, this kind of stroller is not provided with any shelf for accommodating articles. Thus, it is inconvenient to operate the stroller for an adult having articles in his/her hands.

0004U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,128 discloses another rehabilitation stroller, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref>. With this kind of stroller, a user can adjust the angle between the seat and the backrest. However, the complicated structure of the adjusting device increases both the manufacturing cost and the total weight of the stroller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0005An object of this invention is therefore to provide an improved rehabilitation stroller, which is provided with a shelf for accommodating articles and a sunshade. The user can adjust the backrest portion of the stroller, fold the stroller to a minimum volume easily and safely stop the stroller by simply stepping on a braking device. Further, as the stroller of this invention has a relatively simple structure, the total weight and cost of the stroller are greatly reduced.

0006According to one aspect of this invention, a rehabilitation stroller is provided, which mainly comprises a backrest portion, a handrail portion, a seat portion, a front leg portion, a shelf portion and a rear leg portion. The backrest portion is connected to the handrail portion by backrest adjusting bolts on both sides and the handrail portion is connected to the front leg portion at first pivoting points by bolts on both sides. The front leg portion is connected to the shelf portion at second pivoting points by rivets on both sides and the shelf portion is connected to the rear leg portion at third pivoting points by rivets on both sides. The rear leg portion is integrally welded to the seat portion. The backrest portion is also provided with a frame fixing hook on each side. The frame fixing hook has one end pivotally connected to the backrest portion by a rivet and the other end provided with an open slot by which the frame fixing hook is engaged with a frame supporting projection welded on the rear leg portion so as to fix the frame of the stroller. When a user intends to fold the stroller of this invention, he only needs to laterally draw out a T-shaped copper sleeve received in a closed slot provided in the frame fixing hook on each side, and then the frame fixing hook can be moved forwardly to disengage from the frame support projection, thereby folding the frame of the stroller to a minimum volume.

0007According to another aspect of this invention, the handrail portion is provided with a plurality of backrest adjusting holes for adjusting the angle of the backrest portion with respect to the handrail portion. The backrest portion is connected to the handrail portion on each side by the backrest adjusting bolt passing through one of the holes.

0008According to another aspect of this invention, a braking device is provided between a pair of rear wheels connected to the rear leg portion. The braking device comprises a braking assembly for each of the rear wheels and an elastic wire movably and pivotably connected between the braking assemblies. Each braking assembly includes a braking drum and a braking plate. The braking plate is provided with a lower blocking tab and a boss having an upper blocking tab. When the elastic wire is held against the upper blocking tabs and compressed by the bosses, opposite free ends of the wire are spaced apart from the braking drums, respectively, and when the wire is caused to pivot, by being stepped on by the user, for example, from the upper blocking tabs to the lower blocking tabs, the opposite free ends of the wire are inserted into the braking drums, respectively, to brake the stroller.

0009According to another aspect of this invention, the backrest portion is connected to the handrail portion by a clip and an adjusting member such that an angle of the backrest portion with respect to the handrail portion is adjustable. The clip is connected to the backrest portion through a side blocking tube and the frame fixing hook and the adjusting member connects the handrail portion with the clip by passing through one of a plurality of holes provided in the clip. The disengagements of the left and right frame fixing hooks from respective frame fixing projections are simultaneously controlled by a link cooperating with two springs such that the folding of the stroller can be carried out with one hand or foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0010The structure, features and functions of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> is a perspective view showing a conventional rehabilitation stroller;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> is a perspective view showing another conventional rehabilitation stroller;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view showing a rehabilitation stroller of this invention;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic side view showing the frame of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention in the unfolded state;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic side view showing the frame of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention in the folded state;

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> is a perspective view showing a frame fixing hook and associated members of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention, in which the frame fixing hook is engaged with a frame supporting projection of a rear leg portion;

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> is a perspective view showing the frame fixing hook and associated members of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention, in which the frame fixing hook is disengaged from the frame supporting projection of the rear leg portion;

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a schematic rear view showing a braking device of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention;

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention;

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a schematic view showing a frame fixing hook and associated members of the second embodiment of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention, in which the frame fixing hook is engaged with a frame supporting projection of a seat portion and a side blocking tube is removed for the purpose of illustration; and

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is an enlarged schematic view showing the backrest adjusting arrangement of the second embodiment of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0022Selected embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a preferred embodiment of a rehabilitation stroller of this invention, and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 4</figref> schematically show the frame of the rehabilitation stroller of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> in unfolded and folded states, respectively. In view of the symmetrical structure of the frame of the stroller, only the left portion of the frame with reference numerals of elements thereof is shown in the drawings and accordingly described in the following.

0024As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the rehabilitation stroller of this invention mainly comprises a backrest portion <b>10</b>, a handrail portion <b>14</b>, a seat portion <b>16</b>, a front leg portion <b>20</b>, a shelf portion <b>32</b> and a rear leg portion <b>34</b>. The backrest portion <b>10</b> is connected to the handrail portion <b>14</b> by a backrest adjusting bolt <b>12</b> and the handrail portion <b>14</b> is connected to the front leg portion <b>20</b> at a first pivoting point P<b>1</b> by a bolt. The front leg portion <b>20</b> is connected to the shelf portion <b>32</b> at a second pivoting point P<b>2</b> by a rivet and the shelf portion <b>32</b> is connected to the rear leg portion <b>34</b> at a third pivoting point P<b>3</b> by a rivet. The rear leg portion <b>34</b> is integrally welded to the seat portion <b>16</b>. The backrest portion <b>10</b> is also provided with a frame fixing hook <b>40</b> on each side. The frame fixing hook <b>40</b> has one end pivotally connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> by a rivet <b>44</b> and the other end provided with an open slot by which the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is engaged with a frame supporting projection <b>42</b> welded on the rear leg portion <b>34</b> so as to fix the frame of the stroller. When a user intends to fold the stroller, he only needs to laterally draw out a T-shaped sleeve <b>46</b> received in a closed slot provided in the frame fixing hook <b>40</b>, and then the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> can be moved forwardly to disengage from the frame supporting projection <b>42</b>, thereby folding the frame to a minimum volume. This folding operation will be described in detail later.

0025As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the handrail portion <b>14</b> is provided with a plurality of (e.g., three) backrest adjusting holes <b>11</b> for adjusting the angle of the backrest portion <b>10</b> with respect to the handrail portion <b>14</b>. The backrest portion <b>10</b> is connected to the handrail portion <b>14</b> by the backrest adjusting bolt <b>12</b> selectively passing through one of the backrest adjusting holes <b>11</b>. The upper free end of the backrest portion <b>10</b> is bent to form a grip portion and a sunshade frame <b>13</b> extends from the bent portion of the backrest portion <b>10</b>, to which a pillow and a sunshade may be attached to thereby provide a more comfortable environment for sitting. The seat portion <b>16</b> is internally provided with a seat inner tube <b>18</b> which is telescopically received in the seat portion <b>16</b> such that the length of the seat portion can be adjusted based on the demands of the infant sitting thereon. A pedal support <b>22</b> is welded to the front leg portion <b>20</b> in the vicinity of the lower free end of the front leg portion <b>20</b> and is provided with a pedal lifting assembly <b>26</b> to which a pedal <b>24</b> is pivotally connected. The height of the pedal <b>24</b> from the ground can be adjusted by sliding an inner member of the pedal lifting assembly <b>26</b>, to which the pedal <b>24</b> is connected, with respect to an outer member of the assembly <b>26</b> connected with the pedal support <b>22</b>. Once a suitable height of the pedal <b>24</b> from the ground is reached, the user inserts a bolt (not shown) through corresponding holes provided in the inner and outer members of the pedal lifting assembly <b>26</b> to fix the desired height. A bent portion of the lower free end of the front leg portion <b>20</b> is provided with a front wheel support <b>28</b> on which a front wheel <b>30</b> is rotatably mounted. A shelf for accommodating articles may be attached to and suspended from the shelf portion <b>32</b>. When the user has articles in his hands, he can conveniently put the articles in the shelf to leave his hands free to operate the stroller.

0026Next, the detailed structure of the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>, in this embodiment, the frame supporting projection <b>42</b> is welded on the rear leg portion <b>34</b> as described above. The frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is a steel plate and has one end pivotally connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> by the rivet <b>44</b> and the other end engaged with the frame supporting projection <b>42</b> by the open slot. The frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is also provided with a closed slot and a T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b>. The T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b> is connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> by a rivet. The closed slot has two engaging hole portions and a transition path between the two engaging hole portions. The inner diameter of each of the engaging hole portions is substantially identical to the outer diameter of the T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b> but the width of the transition path between the two engaging hole portions is smaller than the outer diameter of the T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b>. Therefore, when the T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b> is received in either one of the engaging hole portions of the closed slot due to the biasing force of a spring (not shown) provided therein, the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> cannot pivot about the rivet <b>44</b> due to the barrier of the smaller width of the transition path to the larger diameter of the T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b>. Only when the T-shaped copper sleeve <b>46</b> has been drawn out of the engaging hole portion of the closed slot, the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> can pivot forwardly about the rivet <b>44</b> such that the open slot thereof can disengage from the frame supporting projection <b>42</b>.

0027Back to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the folding operation of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention will now be described. When the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> disengages from the frame supporting projection <b>42</b> in the above manner, the backrest portion <b>10</b> and the rear leg portion <b>34</b> are no longer connected with each other. At this time, by holding and lifting the handrail portion <b>14</b>, owing to the pivotal connections at the first, second and third pivoting points P<b>1</b>, P<b>2</b> and P<b>3</b>, the front leg portion <b>20</b> rotates counterclockwise and the shelf portion <b>32</b> rotates clockwise in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. Then, the handrail portion <b>14</b> can be rotated clockwise to thereby bring the stroller to the folded state as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. Thus, it is very easy and convenient for a user to carry out the folding operation of the stroller of this invention.

0028Next, the braking operation of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention will be described. In view of the symmetrical structures of the stroller and of the braking device, only the left portion of the braking device associated with the left rear wheel <b>36</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the braking device is provided between the left and right rear wheels <b>36</b> and comprises a first (left) braking assembly for the left rear wheel <b>36</b>, a second (right) braking assembly for the right rear wheel (not shown) and an elastic wire <b>50</b> arranged between the first and second braking assemblies. Each braking assembly comprises a braking drum <b>52</b> and a braking plate <b>54</b>. The braking plate <b>54</b> is provided with a lower blocking tab <b>56</b> and a boss <b>57</b> having an upper blocking tab <b>55</b>. The wire <b>50</b> is movably connected between the left and right braking plates <b>54</b> and pivotable between the left and right upper blocking tabs <b>55</b> and the left and right lower blocking tabs <b>56</b>. When the wire <b>50</b> is held against the upper blocking tabs <b>55</b>, it is subjected to an inward elastic compression by the curved surfaces of the left and right bosses <b>57</b>. Thus, opposite free ends of the wire <b>50</b> remain within the braking plates <b>54</b> and are spaced apart from the braking drums <b>52</b>. Therefore, the stroller is free to move. When the user intends to brake the stroller, he can simply step on the wire <b>50</b> to cause the wire <b>50</b> to pivot away from the upper blocking tabs <b>55</b> along the curved surfaces of the bosses <b>57</b> to the lower blocking tabs <b>56</b>. When the wire <b>50</b> reaches the lower blocking tabs <b>56</b>, since the wire <b>50</b> is no longer compressed by the curved surfaces of the bosses <b>57</b>, the opposite free ends of the wire <b>50</b> extend out of the braking plates <b>54</b> and are inserted into corresponding holes provided in the braking drums <b>52</b> due to the elastic recovery force of the wire itself, thereby braking the stroller in one step.

Second Embodiment

0029Now, the second embodiment of the rehabilitation stroller of this invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7 to 9</figref>. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, only differences between the first and second embodiments will be described and parts of the second embodiment that are the same as or similar to the parts of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

0030Unlike the first embodiment, the rehabilitation stroller of this embodiment is provided with a separate sunshade frame <b>13</b> connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> so as to increase the supporting ability of the backrest portion <b>10</b>. The backrest portion <b>10</b> is additionally provided with a side blocking tube <b>64</b> such that the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is located between the backrest portion <b>10</b> and the side blocking tube <b>64</b>. Thus, the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is limited to pivot in the gap between the backrest portion <b>10</b> and the side blocking tube <b>64</b> without any transverse displacement. The lower end of the side blocking tube <b>64</b> is connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> and the sunshade frame <b>13</b> by a bolt <b>47</b> and an adjusting bolt <b>48</b> such that the side blocking tube <b>64</b>, the backrest portion <b>10</b> and the sunshade frame <b>13</b> are held in parallel to one another. The upper end of the side blocking tube <b>64</b> is provided with a U-shaped clip <b>66</b> with opposing portions for receiving the handrail portion <b>14</b> and the side blocking tube <b>64</b> therebetween. The U-shaped clip <b>66</b> is provided with a plurality of (e.g., three) backrest adjusting holes <b>11</b> for adjusting the angle of the backrest portion <b>10</b> with respect to the handrail portion <b>14</b>. The handrail portion <b>14</b> is connected to the U-shaped clip <b>66</b> by a backrest adjusting bolt <b>12</b> selectively passing through one of the holes <b>11</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a schematic view showing the relationship among the handrail portion <b>14</b>, the U-shaped clip <b>66</b> and the side blocking tube <b>64</b>.

0031Next, the operation of the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> of the second embodiment will be described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>. Unlike the first embodiment, with the combination of a link <b>70</b> and two springs <b>72</b>, the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> of this embodiment can be operated by a single hand or foot to achieve the folding of the stroller. In this embodiment, a frame supporting projection <b>42</b> is welded on the seat portion <b>16</b> and the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is a steel plate provided with an open slot and a closed slot. The frame fixing hook <b>40</b> has one end connected to the backrest portion <b>10</b> by the spring <b>72</b> serving as a biasing member and the other end engaged with the frame supporting projection <b>42</b> by the open slot. The spring <b>72</b> is arranged to bias the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> to engagement with the frame supporting projection <b>42</b>. The frame fixing hook <b>40</b> is pivotally connected at an upper middle portion thereof to the backrest portion <b>10</b> by the bolt <b>47</b> serving as a center of rotation. The closed slot of the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> provides a space for the relative movement of the adjusting bolt <b>48</b> when the frame fixing hook <b>40</b> rotates. The link <b>70</b> is arranged between and welded to the left and right frame fixing hooks <b>40</b>. When folding the stroller, the user only needs to press down the link <b>70</b> to overcome the biasing force of the springs <b>72</b> so as to cause the frame fixing hooks <b>40</b> to pivot about the bolts <b>47</b> and thus to disengage from the frame supporting projections <b>42</b>. Then, the stroller can be folded in substantially the same manner described in the first embodiment.

0032While this invention has been described according to the above embodiments, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications can be carried out by those skilled in this art in view of the teaching of this disclosure without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.